'They hit us and dragged us to their cars': Social media apps shockingly used for sex slave market

'We were crying the whole time. We wanted to kill ourselves but we couldn't find a way.'

The sex trafficking industry has boomed with help from social media.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Several reports revealed the Islamic State has been trading thousands of sex slaves over social media apps.

The encrypted ISIS app Telegram sells everything from weapons and gear to virgins and sex slaves.

Business Insider revealed WhatsApp has also been used to help buyers communicate with slavers and one Jihad attempted to sell two slaves on Facebook.

Several woman have shared their stories of survival and the world is content knowing those brave women made it out - but what of the ones who are killed or remain in captivity?

Modern-day slavery is a world-wide issue. Several websites call on the public to stay alert, teach children to be safe in public and online, offer resources for people who want to help and list the numerous signs someone is the victim of slavery.

The Global Slavery Index estimates 45.8 million contemporary slaves exist across 167 countries - so what are authorities doing about it?

The United Nations has already proclaimed such acts are illegal and encouraged countries to punish offenders but now they are considering a special international tribunal to focus on ISIS' war crimes, crimes against humanity and enslavement of women.

The council proposes an increase of social media monitoring as well as online and real-world hotspot surveillance.

Sadly, a significant number of victims are displaced refugees, leading UN agencies to encourage assistance and protection for civilians, particularly in areas known for abductions.

In the Middle East, where UN authority is often ignored, women are abducted by ISIS members to send a hailstorm of bullets into towns then grab every woman and girl young enough to serve as a sex slave.

One survivor shared: "There were 20 of them, with long beards and weapons. They said: 'You're coming to Mosul.' We refused. They hit us and dragged us to their cars."

They were left at a sports hall for a few weeks before being moved to a weding hall with roughly 200 women and girls. Fighters came to check the "merchandise" and place bids.

"We didn't dare look at their faces," she said. "We were so afraid. One girl came back after she had been used as a sex slave and told us everything. After that, IS did not allow anyone else to return.

"They were shooting to scare us. They took whomever they wanted, by force. We were crying the whole time. We wanted to kill ourselves but we couldn't find a way."

When a woman or girl did find a way to kill herself, the others were kept from her.

"She slashed her wrists. They didn't let us help her. They put us in a room and shut the door. She died. They said: 'It doesn't matter, we'll just dump the body somewhere...They took many girls for sex. They told us, 'Forget the life you knew.'"

Though the sex trade is different in the Middle East, it is equally traumatizing around the world.

Sex traffic victims are often withdrawn, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense or paranoid. They avoid eye contact, are reluctant to seek help and often show signs of physical or sexual abuse.

Bruising, malnourished and the lack of health or dental care are all possible signs as well. For the full list, visit Live Fear Free.

If you feel someone is the victim of human trafficking, call 1 (888) 373-7888. It is the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

It offers 24-hour help seven days a week. The line offers help in English, Spanish and 200 other languages.

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